BJP refutes reports of MNS joining BJP-Sena-RPI alliance

Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council and senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde refuted reports of an alliance of the Shiv Sena-BJP and the Republican Party of India (Athawale) with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

However, he said that the BJP feels that the MNS ought to be part of the grand-alliance, adding that senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde had said on earlier occasions that the MNS should be part of the alliance.

"Even Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray through his party mouthpiece 'Saamana' had called for an alliance with the MNS. The ball is now in the court of the MNS to decide whether they want to join the grand-alliance or not," Tawde told reporters.

He rued the fact that the Congress-NCP alliance is in power despite having merely 34 per cent votes, while the opposition's share of votes stands divided at 66 per cent.

"If we (Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI and MNS) come together, we could dethrone Congress-NCP rule. We will come together and change the government," he said.